IT'S no wonder Per Frandsen likes to spend his spare time at the movies.

For Brian Kidd's new all action hero seems destined to play a starring role following his £1.75m move from the Reebok.

According to sources in Denmark, Kidd has signed a midfielder in the Roy Keane mould.

And if Frandsen turns out to have half the impact the Irishman has had at Old Trafford then the good times could soon be back at Ewood.

"Per may not make as many tackles as Keane but the two are very similar in their style of play," said Hans Christian Blem, a Danish journalist who has followed Frandsen's career from the start.

"He's a great team player who will bring a lot of spirit to the Blackburn dressing room.

"He always wants to win.

"And he's the type of guy who thinks a game is never lost until the final whistle.

"But he's also very skilful too - a superb passer of the ball who has a fierce shot with both feet."

Former Bolton boss Colin Todd subscribed to a similar view.

And Rovers fans will soon be clamouring to join the fan club once the 29-year-old starts to reproduce the form which made him an idol with the Wanderers.

Kidd has seen his resources decimated by long-term injuries to the likes of Garry Flitcroft, Billy McKinlay and Jason McAteer.

But the arrival of Frandsen should finally solve that midfield headache and his ability to get forward and score goals is a valuable new weapon in the side's armoury.

Yet despite wanting to be the centre of attention on the pitch, the Dane prefers to keep a low profile in his private life.

Most of his free time is spent with his wife and two children but when he does go out, it's to the cinema and the theatre.

"I like to go to the movies and I also like watching musicals," said Frandsen.

"I go over to Manchester quite a bit where I've seen things like Blood Brothers and Boogie Nights.

"But I'm just a normal guy with all the normal interests."

Frandsen was something of an unknown outside his homeland when he moved to Burnden as part of a package deal involving Michael Johansen in August 1996.

Brought up in Copenhagen, he started life as a professional with hometown club B 1903 who he helped to runners up spot in the Danish League in 1989.

A year later he won his first full international cap in a game against Germany before moving on to French outfit Lille, where he had four brilliant seasons.

But he became homesick and opted to move back to Denmark in 1994.

"That was great experience playing in France and I learned a lot in my time there," said Frandsen.

"But I started to miss my friends after a while so I was pleased when I got the chance to go back home."

On his return to FC Copenhagen he scored 12 goals in 29 league appearances before helping his new club to a 5-0 win in the Danish Cup final.

Then in 1996 he was called into the Denmark squad for Euro 96.

Later that summer, Todd took him to Bolton and, after quickly adjusting to life in the fast lane, he soon earned himself a reputation as a gifted box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal.

During three seasons with the Wanderers he made 153 appearances, scoring 22 times, and in 1997/98 he was voted Player's Player of the Year.

But while his club career has blossomed, his growing stature hasn't been reflected at international level.

His last cap came against Wales at Anfield earlier in the summer but manager Bo Johansson has tended to prefer Tottenham's Allan Nielson or AC Milan's Thomas Helveg.

And out of his 19 caps so far, Frandsen has yet to play a full 90 minutes.

"It's been a bit frustrating because you want to play all the time," said the Dane.

"But I've been involved in quite a lot of games and to go to the World Cup last year was a dream come true.

"I don't really blame the manager.

"He's been good to me in a lot of ways and I'm just delighted to be part of it.

"But all I'm thinking about is Blackburn Rovers at the moment.

"My three years at Bolton were excellent but I've got to look forward now, not back.

"This move is very exciting for me.

"It's a new challenge and I'm really looking forward to it.

"There's a big squad here with some very good players and I think we have a great chance of getting back into the Premiership."

And the fans may begin to share that confidence once Frandsen starts to perform.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.